A large mulch pile is burning 70 feet underground in Clairton, causing many concerns, including carbon monoxide.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 1:05 PM EDT Jul 17, 2017

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT >> I'M STANDING RIGHT BY THEJUMPSTART -- SITE -- DUMPSITE.THIS IS A LARGE MULTIFILEBURNING 70 FEET UNDERGROUND.WITH SO MANY CONCERNS INCLUDINGCARBON MONOXIDE.>> I.THAT'S LIKE A FIRE.>> A MASSIVE SITE THAT LOOKSLIKE SMOKE COMING FROM THEEARTH.A SMELL OF HIS BURNING DUMP SITETHAT HAS THOSE IN CLARITINREACHING THEIR NOSTRILS FORTHOSE A LIVE HERE.THE FIRE CHIEF SAYS INITIALCOMPLAINTS OF SMOKE SMART --STARTED THURSDAY NIGHT.CREWS SPENT FRIDAY POURING WATER, PLUS NOTIFYING THE COUNTY,HAZMAT AND DEP.>> THEY TOLD US TO NOT FLOWANYMORE WATER AFTER WE FLEWWATER ALL NIGHT FRIDAY EVENING.>> THAT COULD LEAD TO A BIGGERNIGHTMARE, PROBLEMS DOWN THESTREAM.THERE ARE SEWER LINES OF THEBOTTOM.>> THIS IS BAD FOR THE RESIDENCEIF YOU LOOK BEHIND US, SEE ALLTHE SMOKE, IT IS GOING INTO THECITY.IT IS AWFUL.>> THE SIGN ON THE FENCE READSFOX'S WORM FARMER CYCLINGEXPERTS.THE OWNER REFUSED TO SPEAK WITHUS.WE ASKED THE FIRE CHIEF HOW THISSTARTED.>> BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT ISPUT A PILE OF GRASS IN YOUR YARDAND REACHING ABOUT PILOT GRASS ADAY LATER, YOU'RE GOING TO FEELHEAT.IMAGINE THAT IN A 70 FOOT PILEOVER THE YEARS CONTINUING TOBUILD UP.>> HE IS WAITING ON THE COUNTYHEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MAKE ADECISION ON THE NEXT STEPS LIKECALLING THE MULCH AWAY.THE COUNTY SPOKESPERSON TOLD USIS THE DEP WHO WILL DECIDE.

"Best way to describe it: Put a pile of grass in your yard, and reach into that pile of grass a day later, you're going to feel heat," he said. "Imagine that heat, 70-foot pile, over the years just continues to build up, build up and build up. Find a nice, dry material, and then it starts."

Lazur said he's waiting for the county Health Department to make a decision on the next steps to take, like hauling the mulch away. A county spokesperson told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that the DEP would make that decision.

Anyone who lives in the area of the fire and feels an illness should contact the fire department for a carbon monoxide meter reading, Lazur said.